NDRRMC: 3 dead, 5 missing as typhoon ‘Karen’ leaves PAR

MANILA — Typhoon Karen left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday with three dead persons and five others missing, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

In a press briefing in Malacañang, NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said the local DRRMCs are now conducting the rapid disaster and damage assessment on the respective areas particularly in the Regions I, II, III, Calabarzon, and V.

“Right now, out of 8,000 families evacuated, 5,077 families are still staying inside the evacuation centers in those regions,” Jalad told the Malacañang media.

He said the three dead persons are being validated “to make sure on the cause of death and the circumstances on those declared missing.”

Jalad said the NDRMMC also received reports of two incidents of capsizing of a boat and vessels in Catbalogan City in Samar province.

”Fortunately, all the passengers and crew were immediately rescued,” he said.

He said 943 houses were damaged while damage to crops is still being assessed by the NDRRMC’s regional offices in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture.

Jalad said the NDRRMC is now preparing “in response to the threat” as typhoon “Lawin” is expected to enter PAR on Monday.

”Based on the forecast of PAGASA, Lawin is expected to largely affect the country Thursday particularly Northern Luzon,” Jalad said. Jelly Musico/PNA-northboundasia.com